Disconnect mechanism for reciprocating drive



April 28, 1954 B. J. NIGRl-:LLI ETAL 3,130,602

DISCONNECT MECHANISM FOR RECIPROCATING DRIVE *f 3 c Y EDWARD. u. scHALLER B. J. NlGRr-:LLI ETAL 3,130,602

MECHANISM FOR RECIPROCATING DRIVE April 28, 1964 DISCONNECT A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 50, 1962 BIAGIO J. NIGRELLI wENDELL E. sTANDLEY ,RICHARD B wlTTMANN E'o EDWARD M. scHALLER u' BY MMMATTORNEY prll 28, 1954 B. J. NIGRELLI ETAL 3,130,502

DlscoNNEcT MECHANISM FOR RECIPROCATING DRIVE Filed July 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS WENDELL E. STANDLEY RICHARD B. WITTMANN EDWARD M. SCHALLER United States Patent O 3,139,602 DISCGNNEQT MECHANISM EUR RECIPRCATNG DRIVE Biagio J. Nigreiii, Northbrook, Wendeii E. Standley, Lahe Forest, Richard E. Wittmann, Chicago, and Edward M. Schaller, Skokie, il., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, Iii., a corporation oi' Deiaware Eiied .lniy 30, 1962, Ser. Ne. 213,175 Ciaims. (Ei. 74 5t3) The present invention relates to drive transmission devices and more particularly to mechanism by which a reciprocable blank-feed or other device designed for forward and reverse travel in a fixed operating cycle may always be stopped and started at a Xed point in the cycle.

The disconnect mechanism of the present invention may have numerous applications. In the present instance the mechanism is illustrated in connection with a reciprocating drive device in which a vacuum cup carriage, supporting a pair of angularly related cup units, is movable between spaced blank magazines to feed blanks singly to a receiving conveyor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a substantially instantaneously operable connecting and disconnecting means by which the reciprocable carriage of a vacuum cup unit, of the type above referred to, may in every instance be stopped and later restarted with the cup or row of cups presented in normal blank grasping position.

A further object of the invention is to provide, for general application, a simple and eiiective connecting means between two reciprocating, or similarly movable elements, by which such elements may be connected and disconnected at one end of their movement.

ther and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention- FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation showing the disconnect mechanism in its driving condition, such mechanism being shown incorporated in the drive for moving a vacuum cup carriage between a pair of blank magazines and showing the delivery portion of a blank magazine at the right as viewed in this gure;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional detail view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional detail View taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a View in side elevation, similar to FIG- URE l, showing the drive in its disconnected condition;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional detail View, similar to FIG- URE 2, taken on line 5 5 of FIGURE 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional detail view, similar to FIG- URE 3, taken on line 6 6 of FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a view in side elevation showing the disconnect mechanism in its driving condition and similar to FIGURE 1 except that the vacuum cup carriage is shown in its extreme position opposite to that shown in FIGURE l where the vacuum cup is brought into engagement with the delivery end of a second blank magazine opposite to the magazine shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 8 3 of FIGURE 7.

The disconnect mechanism herein Aillustrated is particu- 3,130,602 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 larly desirable for use in controlling a vacuum cup unit Such as illustrated in the patent to G. C. Currie, lr., et al., No. 3,013,796, to which reference is made for details of the construction of and operation of the vacuum cups.

In its essentials, the disconnect mechanism, as herein disclosed, includes a constantly reciprocating bar member and a rock lever operated thereby, with a displaceable element normally connecting the bar and lever to rock the lever. The displaceable element is maintained in slidable relation to a movable displacing member operated by a piston and cylinder mechanism. When the parts are to be disconnected, air under pressure is admitted to the cylinder to move the displacing member. This member is associated with suitable parts that Will permit the dispiaceable element to be displaced only at a Xed point. Thus, while the pressure on the piston urges the displacing member to move, it cannot do s0 until the displaceable element reaches the xed point at which it can be displaced. When this point is reached, the displaceable element is moved by the displacing member out of connecting relation with the reciprocating bar and the rock lever. The lever thereupon will remain at rest until the piston is returned to its original position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reciprocable bar, indicated at 1, is mounted to slide within a guide opening in guide block 2 suitably secured to a vertical plate 3 of the main frame of the machine with which the disconnect mechanism is to be used. The rock lever, indicated at 4, is pivoted on a rod 5 having one end journalled in frame plate 3 and its other end in plate 3a. See FIG. 8.

The bar 1 may be reciprocated in any desired manner. In the present instance, the bar is formed at its end with a portion 6 at right angles to the bar and having a slot 7 in which a crank pin on a disk 9 is arranged to operate. The disk is fixed on a shaft Iii, journalled in the frame plate 3, and the shaft carries a sprocket 11 over which passes a sprocket chain 12 driven by suitable driving means, not shown. Rotation of the disk 9 causes the crank pin to move Within the slot and convert rotary motion of the crank pin into reciprocating motion or the bar.

The rock lever 4 is preferably formed with spaced, parallel bar sections 4a, 4a extending from a boss 4b within which the pivot rod 5 is received. As shown in FIG- URES 2, 5 and 8, the reciprocable bar 1 extends between the sections 4a, 4a. Also disposed within this space is a iixed plate or block 13 held rigidly on bolts 14, 14 secured in frame plate 3. The bolts are spaced apart suiiiciently to permit the rock lever 4 to swing freely between them. Collars 15, 15 surrounding the bolts hold the plate 13 properly spaced from the frame plate 3 and Within the space between the sections 4a, 4a of the rock lever.

The lower edge of bar 1 moves in close relation to the top edge of the plate 13. This plate is formed with an upwardly opening notch 16 the purpose of which will presently be described.

Means are provided for releasably connecting the bar 1 to the rock lever 4. In the present instance this is efected by forming a notch 17 in the lower edge portion of the bar and forming siots 13, 18 in the sections 4a, 4a of the rock lever into which there is received a detent pin 19, freely movable within such notch and slots.

The releasing means for selectively moving the pin into or out of the notch comprises a guide means n the form ot a pivoted lever 2@ having two spaced bar sections 20a, 23a (see FIGURES 2, 5 and 8) each formed with a slot 21 into which the ends of the pin 1S are received. The sections 20a, 26a are secured in a boss 22 through which a pivot bolt 23 passes, the bolt being secured to the frame plate 3.

In order to control the position of the lever Ztl an extended bar section Zb projects on the opposite side of the pivot from the sections 2da, and is formed with a short slot 20c into which is received a pin 25 secured in a yoke 26 held on the end of a piston rod 27 having a piston thereon slidable within cylinder 2S which is attached in fixed position on the frame plate 3.

When the reciprocable bar l is to be disconnected from the rock lever 4, compressed air or other suitable uid under pressure is admitted below the piston in cylinder 23 tending to raise the piston rod and thus tending to tilt FIGURE 7. Thereafter, as soon as the bar it and rock the guide bar 2h in a clockwise direction, as viewed in lever 4 have moved to the right substantially to a point at the limit of the stroke of the bar 1, the pin 19 will be in registration with the notch i8 in plate 13. At this point the pin will be forced into the notch by the abrupt downward movement of the end of the guide lever 20 due to pressure below the piston. It is to be noted that, even though pressure below the piston may occur at any point in the movement of the bar l, the guide lever 2@ cannot be swung down, due to the pin riding along the upper edge of the plate 13, until the pin reaches and enters the notch 16.

Conversely, when the reciprocable bar l is to be again connected with the rock lever 4, fluid pressure will be released below the piston in cylinder 23 and admitted above the piston. This will tend to raise the pin i9 but the pin can be raised only at the time the notch i7 in bar 1 is in registration with the notch i6 in plate 13. In all other positions of the bar 1 the lower surface of the bar will bear on the upper face of the pin. Thus, the pin will be abruptly forced into the notch 17 when such notch registers with notch 16.

It is to be noted that the operation of connecting or disconnecting the bar l and rock lever 14 occurs substantially at the point where the bar l is ready to change its direction and is thus momentarily at rest. Thus the connection is accomplished with substantially no shock to the moving parts.

Referring to the mechanism operated by the reciprocating bar l, the upper end of rock lever 4, keyed on rod 5, has a link 31 connected thereto which is attached at its opposite end to a slidable carriage unit 32 supported on a guide rod 32a. A second carriage unit, not shown, but identical with unit 32, is located on the opposite side of the machine and is linked with the upper end of a rock lever a, indentical in length with rock lever 4, and also keyed on the rod 5 so that both rock levers 4 and 5a will move in an identical manner to cause the carriage units to reciprocate as a single unit.

The two carriage units support between them a vacuum cup mechanism, indicated as a whole at 33, which is designed to withdraw individual blanks 34 alternately from oppositely located blank magazines 35 and 3e. See FIG- URES l and 7. The cups indicated at 33a and 33h are iixed in angular relation and are mounted for oscillation on a shaft 37 extending between the carriage units. While only single cups 33a and 336 are shown, it will be understood that two or more cups are arranged in a row to engage the blank at several points depending upon the blank length. For simplicity, each row of cups will be referred to as a single cup since each row operates in a unitary manner.

When vacuum cup 33a is in blank-engaging position the cup 33h is directed downwardly and will be in the process of dropping a blank onto the blank conveyor, not shown, located beneath the magazines. A suitable gear or other device may be secured to the shaft 37 to rock the shaft and swing the vacuum cups as the carriage reciprocates. The detailed construction of the vacuum cup supports and operating parts may be identical, if desired, to the construction shown in the above mentioned Currie patent.

Additional mechanism may be operated by the rock lever 4. As herein shown, an extension 5b on rock lever J 5a is connected with a link itl to the extension 41 on a double rock lever having arms 42 to which links 43, 43 are connected. The upper ends of these links are arranged to actuate suitable pawl elements to drive ratchet wheels step by step to advance the blank supply in each of the magazines. This is also shown in detail in the Currie patent. Y In the use of the machine the blanks are employed as wrap-around cartons to enclose groups of lled cans. In the event that the ilow of cans is interrupted it is undesirable to allow the blanks to be delivered only to move uselessly past the blank loading station. Accordingly, the blank delivery should be stopped. It is also undesirable merely to render the vacuum control valves inoperative and allow the cups to go uselessly through their feeding motions. A disadvantage in so doing is that the cups, when brought repeatedly into Contact with the blanks, even for a short period, tend to displace the blank at the front of the magazine to cause it later to be deposited out of proper alignment on the blank conveyor, with the consequence that a defective package will be produced, or that the improperly deposited blank will become jammed at some point ahead of the loading station causing interruption in production.

By providing mechanism, as herein disclosed, for stopping the vacuum cup carriage at one end of its travel and stopping the cup unit with its cups presented in opperative position to the leading blank in the magazine, but otherwise inoperative, there is no occasion for a blank to get out of alignment while the supply of cans to be wrapped within the blanks is being corrected. As soon as the conventional form of control means signals that the flow of cans is operating normally, a suitable valve means will be simultaneously actuated tending to return the piston in cylinder 2S downward to its normal position. This will not in every case cause immediate return of the guide lever 2% to its horizontal position as it is necessary that the notch in the bar 1 be rst brought into registration with the notch le in the plate i3. Thus, by having the movement of the bar l timed with the blank conveyor, it can be assured that the rst blank depositedl after resumption of the operation will drop into proper position on the blank conveyor. Y

If desired, the mechanism herein disclosed may be employed in connection with operating devices which are held normally at rest or inoperative and which are activated only for brief intervals. Thus, the piston and cylinder mechanism may be arranged to hold the guide lever 20 normally at an angle, whereby the pin is retained in the notch 18. At times when it is desired to activate the drive for one or more strokes the guide lever is swung up from its FIGURE 4 positon to its FIGURE 1 position and later returned when the drive is to be deactivated.

While the present description sets forth a preferred form of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the mechanism as disclosed Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present disclosure be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

We claim: Y

1. In a disconnect mechanism for a drive transmission system, the combination of a frame, an elongated bar mounted for longitudinal movement thereon, means for continuously reciprocating said bar, an elongated rock lever pivotally mounted on the frame to swing in a plane adjacent the reciprocating bar, the bar being formed with Y' a notch having an opening extending to a lateral edge of the bar, the rock lever being formed with an elongated slot having a portion registrable with the notch and a second portion out of registration therewith, a detent pin movable along the slot and arranged with its long axis extending transversely of the slot with a portion of the pin extendable into the notch in the reciprocable bar when the pin is in the portion of the slot registrable with the notch, and means independent of the rock lever and bar for selectively moving and retaining the detent pin in and out of the notch registering portion of the slot.

2. A disconnect mechanism for a drive transmission system, comprising, in combination, a continuously driven member movable forward and reversely in a fixed path, a rock lever mounted to pivot on a xed axis and having an extended portion movable in a plane adjacent the driven member, a detent element xed to move in a radial path along the rock lever, a portion of such detent element being extended out of the plane of movement of the rock lever for connecting engagement at a xed point on the driven member, and means for selectively moving the detent element into and out of operative engagement with the driven member.

3. Mechanism, as defined in claim 2 in which the rock lever is formed with a slot extending radially thereof and the detent element comprises a pin extending transversely to both the plane of movement of the rock lever and the path of the driven member, said pin being movable along the slot.

4. Mechanism, as defined in claim l, in which the means for selectively retaining the detent pin in and out of the notch registering portion of the slot comprises a guide link mounted on a ixed pivot, guide means for the pin located on the link at one side of its pivot point, said guide means having a length at least equal to the extent of movement of the reciprocating bar, and means for applying force on the guide link to swing its guide portion away from the reciprocating bar and thereby move the detent pin out of the notch at one end of the reciprocating movement of the bar.

5. Mechanism, as dened in claim 4, in which the notched portion of the reciprocating bar moves in close relation to a fixed element having a surface adjacent to and conforming With the bar, such surface being interrupted by a notch having its opening facing the bar and adapted to receive a portion of the length of the detent pin when such pin has moved to a position at one end of its reciprocating movement with the bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,160,208 Spiess Nov. 16, 1915 2,352,088 Evans June 20, 1944 3,076,407 Zimmerman Feb. 5, 1963 

1. IN A DISCONNECT MECHANISM FOR A DRIVE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, THE COMBINATION OF A FRAME, AN ELONGATED BAR MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREON, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY RECIPROCATING SAID BAR, AN ELONGATED ROCK LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME TO SWING IN A PLANE ADJACENT THE RECIPROCATING BAR, THE BAR BEING FORMED WITH A NOTCH HAVING AN OPENING EXTENDING TO A LATERAL EDGE OF THE BAR, THE ROCK LEVER BEING FORMED WITH AN ELONGATED SLOT HAVING A PORTION REGISTRABLE WITH THE NOTCH AND A SECOND PORTION OUT OF REGISTRATION THEREWITH, A DETENT PIN MOVABLE ALONG THE SLOT AND ARRANGED WITH ITS LONG AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE SLOT WITH A PORTION OF THE PIN EXTENDABLE INTO THE NOTCH IN THE RECIPROCABLE BAR WHEN THE PIN IS IN THE PORTION OF THE SLOT REGISTRABLE WITH THE NOTCH, AND MEANS INDEPENDENT OF THE ROCK LEVER AND BAR FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING AND RE- 